Have you ever noticed people say some very funny things when they get worked up?

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Tupperware is possibly the best invention created by man.

I mean, let's be serious about this. Sure, the lightbulb is great and electricity is pretty handy, but at the end of the day would you prefer to have a lamp or a container that fits five smaller containers in it? Yeah, that's what I thought. I mean, how much quick would Thomas Edison have been able to create the lightbulb if only he had had an organised kitchen. We can only imagine...

I still remember when the tupperware craze hit all those years ago and everyone was cracking jokes about women meeting up to discuss plastic containers (the infamous 'Tupperware Party') to hide the fact that their cupboards stocked a seperate tupperware container for each different ingredient. And one for their lunch. And dinner. And pet food. And dead hair. Or maybe that was just me...

We moved house around the time that tupperware hit, so Mum took it upon herself to kit us up with a whole new set of kitchen utensils and containers, and continued to spend a good five hours organising our entire pantry. Each container had a different label, each type of ingredient had a specific colour and every thing had a place. The amazing organisation blew our tiny minds, and sent my brother into an episode of shock. It all lasted about a week. The coconut got mixed with the self raising flour, the brown sugar with the white and the bread crumbs with the baking powder. Basically, complete and utter chaos. I suppose the moral of this story is that tupperware is amazing, and at times I think perhaps supernatural, but there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that can organise our pantry. I attempted to do an excavation some years ago, but had to abort when I found an ulterior lifeform growing in a jar of chutney that went off in 2003 (our current record). I expect the guys from Evolution to arrive any day now.

I guess the attraction of tupperware is its, well, handyness. The quirky simple that has made many businesses successful - Smiggle, for example. Then again, maybe it's just the fact that it's freaking awesome. Hm.

xx Miss Moi

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I made this last night, it's so unbelievably easy but full of flavour ;)

Linguine with mint pesto

400g linguine
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
1/2 cup mint
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove
2 tbsp pine nuts

Cook linguine in a large saucepan of boiling water, according to directions. Add peas for last 5 mins of cooking. Drain well.
Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients in a food processor and blend to a paste.
Combine mint pesto and pasta. Divide between bowls and scatter with extra mint leaves.

xx Miss Moi

p.s. I used a handheld blender instead

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Stingy Chocolate Makers!

Why, why, why! We were all devastated only a week ago to find out that Cadbury were repackaging, to a "new sleek, stylish and modern carton, enhanced by gold-stamping and embossed features". Yeah, right. Because we buy a bar of chocolate as a piece of art. But more devastating than the packaging was what was held inside - "a more contemporary design chocolate square size" which "provides greater ‘mouth-feel’ enhancing the chocolate delivery". Basically what they're trying to say is that they've downsized - 150g block is now 100g/110g, the 250g is 200g/220g and the 400g is now 350g. No joke. As well as all this (yes, there's more, my poor readers) they have changed their classic recipe, now adding vegetable fat to their chocolate. What more can my poor heart take!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it gets worse. Today, Mars Snackfood Australia have announced that Mars Bars, along with Mars' 90 other products (think Milky Ways, Maltesers, Snickers and Twix) will also be downsized! !!!! !!!!! !!!! The bar will drop from 60g to 53g - that's over 11% less! In their new advertisements, Mars says, "Our products are never going to be as healthy as a piece of fruit. But we also recognise that our consumers have become increasingly concerned about the nutritional content and portion size they eat." Yes, your chocolate will never be healthy, but isn't that kind of the point? You don't buy a chocolate bar and think 'Hm, I hope one day this will be as healthy as an apple", you buy it and think "Yay, sugary goodness! Yum Yum!" And a little question for you Mars people - if this is just about being 'healthier' than how come the price is, suprise suprise, exactly the same? Hmm?

With all the global recession, people are all focusing on how hard it's hitting industries, the unemployed, pensioners - but the key demographic they forgot is chocaholics. Seriously, life is getting hard for us, chocolates are getting smaller, more expensive and (I think I may be a little sick) 'healthy'. Ah, what ever shall I do...

xx Miss Moi

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